Another Dose of those Hilarious Housekeeping Tips ~ Julie Lence

 Tomorrow is July 4^th, and as most of us are spending today either preparing for tomorrow’s backyard grilling or heading out of town for our nation’s celebration, I thought I’d keep this blog simple and fun. And what better way to do that than with some housekeeping tips of days of old.

--Keep plenty of matches in every room to keep one from having to search the entire house for a match. It’s considered a good idea to give one daughter the job of filling the matchboxes every day.

--Keep nothing in your house that you believe is not useful or beautiful. Wastefulness is proof of a lack of brain function and culture.

--If possible, a family bedroom should be on the 1^st floor of the house. The room should be plain and warm, with simple and scanty furniture. Items in luxury homes such as dainty toilette cushions and knickknacks are of no use.

--Using an old-fashioned feather duster on tapestry, picture frames and curtains only serves to move dust from one place to another.  To dust proficiently, spread out a cloth and gather dust into it, folding the cloth as you work. Shake cloth out the window.

--To rid the home of moths, wash the floors with common lamp-oil. The smell is horrible, but will be gone a few days and so will the moths. Another trick, when the floor is dry, spread cayenne pepper into the cracks. To keep moths from getting beneath carpets, grind black pepper and mix with camphor gum, then spread under edges of carpet.

--When doing laundry in the middle of winter, set the clothes pin bag in a kettle of boiling water. The hot clothes pins will keep your hands warm when hanging the clothes. 

And you thought modern day housekeeping was tough, lol! 

Luna Release Day!

 

Today is release day for my new sweet historical western romance - Luna!

Luna was such a fun story to write. When I was doing the research, I looked to old newspapers from Pendleton, Oregon, in 191, where and when the story takes place. 

Among the top headlines that summer were a train robbery, Buffalo Bill's appearance at a circus that came to town, and the start of World War I. 

I was able to have the hero and heroine, Hunter and Luna, on the train that is robbed. It was reportedly one of the last Wild West robberies where an old six-shooter was used. 

Hunter and Luna also attend the circus and see Buffalo Bill Cody. I unearthed an old video of actual footage from some of the circus performances with him and his Wild West performers. It was so neat to watch that and imagine my characters in the crowd. 

There's also a scene with a "damsel in distress" as well as Hunter keeping his real identity (it isn't a bronc buster) from Luna when they first meet. 

I hope you'll give the story a try!

She’s searching for peace and grace.

He’s ready to step into his next big adventure.

Haunted by memories of the fateful day that changed her life, Luna Campanelli seeks a fresh start in Pendleton, Oregon. Life in the wild western town is nothing like she imagined, although the rugged beauty of the area soothes her troubled spirit. An unlikely friendship with one of the area ranch hands lifts her hopes, until she discovers the cowboy isn’t who he’s led her to believe.

Hunter Douglas didn’t intend to hide his identity from the woman he met on the train, but when she assumed he was his sister’s hired hand, he didn’t correct her. He never anticipated forming such a deep connection to her, especially when thoughts of her continue to infiltrate his carefully made plans. As a recent college graduate with an inheritance he intends to use to start his own ranch in Pendleton, Hunter must decide if he is willing to open his heart and include Luna in his future.

Will they embrace the unexpected love that has blossomed between them, or let fear tear them apart?

This sweet and wholesome romance is a story of love, healing, and the power of hope in a delightful western setting. Join Luna and Hunter on their journey as they discover what it truly means to love unconditionally.

After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with hope, humor, and hunky heroes.

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter

Pre-Order The Nighthawk!

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

The newest Wings of the West novel is almost here!

Arizona Territory
September 1899

Sophie Ryan’s dream of working for a newspaper has come true. Accompanied by her cousin, Lucas Blackmore, a newly appointed U.S. Deputy Marshal, she arrives in Jerome, one of the richest mining towns in America. And one of the most remote. Although she’s been hired to report for the Jerome Mining News on education and cultural issues, she soon finds herself immersed in something more serious when she finds an enigmatic injured man in the Black Hills claiming to be an ornithologist.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Benton McKay is undercover tracking the notorious train robbing Weaver gang, and the trail ends in Jerome. When he’s injured in the Black Hills and found by a determined and beautiful young woman, he must gain her trust to keep his identity a secret. But keeping her out of trouble proves a challenge, especially with her cousin assigned to assist him. As they track down the band of outlaws, another agenda emerges—the renegades are searching for lost gold believed to have been left behind by the Spanish Conquistadors. And Sophie Ryan is determined to report on it.

Come along with Sophie and McKay as they find adventure, mystery, and love.

Sophie is the daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE.

The Wings of the West Series Reading Order

Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk

[Benton is undercover, alias Ben Lewis, and has been shot in the wilderness near Jerome, Arizona Territory. Sophie found him and nursed him back to health in secret. She's currently in possession of a map that leads to Spanish gold, and Benton wants it.]

“Your wound,” Sophie said. “You’ve reopened it.”

McKay followed her gaze. “It looks that way.”

“Let me have a look.”

“I’m fine.”

“I didn’t stitch you back together to have you undo it all.”

She reached for the collar of his shirt, but he caught her wrists before she could touch him. His hands were warm and larger than she’d realized, his gaze hard and filled with wanting. For her.

It had always been there, some part of her having sensed it, but now she knew for certain.

“You probably shouldn’t keep touching me,” he said.

“You’re touching me.”

She was close enough to see the slight flare of his nostrils and the rapid pace of his breath. He gave a slight nod and released her. She leaned away, putting distance between them.

“Will you at least rebandage it?” she said.

“I’ll look at it.”

“Then it’s time I left.” She picked up her notebook that he’d placed on the bed beside him.

“Will you promise me something?” he asked.

She waited for him to continue.

“That you won’t follow that map by yourself.”

“Are you offering to accompany me?”

“Sophie, this is dangerous. You should give that evidence to me and let me handle it.”

The rush of euphoria from a moment ago slid away. Was Ben Lewis playing on her obvious weakness for him to manipulate her? Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, and she hid the response by standing and reaching for her satchel.

“After I went to all the effort to get it?” she said, placing the notebook in her bag, the blanket dropping from her shoulders and falling to the floor. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll hang on to it.”

She put on her coat, still soaked, but she didn’t care, and grabbed her drenched hat. “I’ll be seeing you, Ben.”

The Nighthawk is coming on July 17, 2024

Pre-order digital copies at

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Apple Books

Nook

Add it on Goodreads

Find it at BookBub

It will also be available at Kobo, Google Play, and in paperback. 

Visit Kristy's website for the latest books news.